Situation

A FORTUNE 200 company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department observed lower workplace satisfaction among its LGBTQ+ employees. Illuminate Research was commissioned to gain insight into why this gap exists and identify specific ways to create a more inclusive and accepting workplace.

Engagement 

The sensitive and private nature of this research topic, as well as the geographic spread of employees at a nationwide company, created a challenging situation for conducting qualitative fieldwork. Illuminate proposed conducting a series of online discussions, four focus groups and two in-depth interviews, to speak with the widest range of employees. Our moderators guided each conversation to foster honest and fruitful discussion on a delicate subject and helped participants feel comfortable and safe. Through deeply personal dialogue, Illuminate uncovered shared sentiments and specific organizational practices that were shaping the LGBTQ+ employee experience at the company.

Results 

This research identified clear, actionable opportunities to strengthen the LGBTQ+ employee experience, ranging from enhanced education and training to targeted policy updates and new initiatives. With these insights in hand, the company’s DEI team now has a defined roadmap and is taking concrete steps to improve the employee experience in ways that reflect what employees themselves want and need.